Oil-storage-tank gauge



Dec. 31, 1929. s. c. RINEHART OIL STORAGE TANK GAUGE Filed NOV. 21, 1927 zkewz eiterate-cl fill, l llid Application filed El'oveniher 331, 192?. Serial lilo.

This invention relates to improvements in gauges for oil storage tanks and the like, wherein a sight gauge is provided for indicating the relative amounts of liquid in the tank;

Heretotore in such devices for indicating the level of the fluid in large tanks, a weight was movably guided in relation with a scale which was fixed at the side of the tanlr. The weight was suspended by means of a flexible line or cable running over the top of the tank, and connected to a fioat resting on the surface of the fluid in the tank. Since the oil storage tanks are sometimes as much as thirty feet in height, close, accurate readings could not be obtained by this means because the index marl; moved up and down the side of the tank, above and below the'eye level. A 1110' nodern method consisted of wrappinga i. cable which was connected to the in the tank, around a drum to which the dials, in-

dicating feet, inches, and fractions 0" inches,

were geared. Separate dials were of course required for the several denominations named in order to keep the size of the device'within practical limits. Obviously readings as close l gible conditions, and in which close readings may be obtained; and to rovide a gauge which can be easily and quic ly adjusted.

To describe this invention more fully, ref-' erence is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. i is a i raginental view of one side of an oil storage tank, with a gauge embodying my invention shown in position thereon Fig. 52, is a front elevation of the gauge hon shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a diagram of the gauge.

Fig. l is a detailed view of the scale.

A housing 1 is mounted on the roof 2 of the 3, with the outer end of the housing overhanging the edge of the tanlr roof, and connected by the length of pipe l to the-upper end oi the gauge hon 5, which is mounted on the side of the tank. lln the housing 1 are mounted the pulleys 8 and '2, one above the other near the outer end of the housing, the pulley 8' the'intermediate portion of the housing, the pulley 9 at the inner end 0;5 tie housing. l

The ileaihle line 10 is connected at one end 11 to the flflfili 12, and passed up over the pulas one-eighth of an inch, which niight repre-cley 9, over the pulley 6, down through the sent a considerable amount oi oil in the tanks which were of large'diaineter, could not be obtained, since a dial with scale graduated in eighths of an inch over a distance of twentyiive or thirty feet would be an impossibility. Nor could relia'hle indications be obtained from severaldials which'are geared progressively one to the other, ,onaccount of the backlash and lost motion inthegearing.

lln the present invention the scale consists of a linear flexible member such as a steel tape or the like. The tape is doubled back upon itself so that a full sized scale may be used in a small space. The scale is-wound around a fixed pulley at the side of the tan and the scale is connected to the float in the tanl; and to suitable means for keeping the tape under a running tension. The main objects of this invention are to provide a simple form of gauge more especially for large size oil storage tanks which can be installed on any kind of tank at a relatively low cost; to proivide a gauge which is accurate and reliable under all thereon as shown in detail in Fig. tape is connected at its ends to the cable secpiping d into the gauge box 5, around the pulley i l, which is mounted in the lower end or the box-hack up over theguide pulley l5, loaclr through the pipe 4, around the pulleyT, and over thepulley 8, to the downfall $20K" tion 16, which connects at its lower end to the counterweight 17.

The end portions 11 and in of the line consist preferably of stranded steel sash corl and the steeltape 18 as represented by broken lines in Fig. 3, is connected in the intermediate portion of the line, This consists of a full size flexible steel measuring tape with the feet, inches, and eighths ofinches marked 4:. The

tions by ineansoli the wire loops l9.

Describing the gauge box in detail, the hon consists of a hollow rectangular sectioned housing 230 provided with a hinged cover 2?. along the front side.- 'lopreventunauthor iaed persons from reading the gauge, the door may be secured in closed position loy Elli) means of a suitable padlock 2E2. jhe front 7 of the housing is covered with a glass plate the door, and the index mark 2& is placed on the rear surface of the glass. The tape is guided in close relation with the glass so that sufiiciently accurate readings may be obtained. In operation, when the float 12 is at the bottom of the tank the length of the line is adjusted so that the zero mark on the tape is in registration with the index mark 2%. "The tape will then occupy the portion of the I the pulley 14 to the pulley 6, with the graduations reading upwardly; and the tape is held under sufficient tension, usually twelve or litteen pounds, to keep it stretched taut over the pulleys. When the float 12 rises, the tape 18 of course moves downwardly a corresponding amount, and the counterweight 17 is lowered into the tank. Thus the tape is maintained in position at all times to indicate the height of the float, and consequently the depth of the fluid in the tank.

Obviously the construction is very simple and reliable. The apparatus can be easily installed on any type of tank, and quickly adjusted to give the proper readings. A small float can be used since the only Work required of the float is to move the small weight of the line over the pulleys, provided with frictionless bearings.

Having thus described my invention my claims are: 1

1. In a gauge for oil storage tanks, a housing mounted on the root of the tank and in closed communication with the interior of the tank, a box mounted on the outer side 0]": the tank, a pipe connecting the boa to the housing, a pulley rotatably mounted in the box, a flexible line running over the pulley and guided through the pipe and the housing with both ends of the line suspended in the tank, a weight attached to one end and a float attached to the other end of the line in the tank for holding the line under tension and positioning the line according to the level of the liquid in the tank, the box having a window with an index marked thereon, and the portion of the line running through the box having graduations marked thereon.

2. In an oil storage tank gauge, a housing mounted on the roof of the tank and having a portion extending downwardly on the outside of the tank, a pulley mounted in the lower end of said portion, a flexible graduated line looped over the pulley and runningly guided in the housing so that tank, a float attached to one of said ends, a weight attached to the other end so that the weight is disposed within the tank, and a window for the lower end of said housing portion so that readings may be conveniently taken from the ground level.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BBAMAN C. RINJQHART.

23 directly underneath Ltd-1,7922

line extending from which of course may be both ends hang in the 

